
          Rec'd. [Received] Dec. 26th/68


 S.F. Dec. 9th '68 [1868]


 Dear Dr Torrey


 Your kind
 letter of recommendation arrived
 yesterday, a week after the Regents
 had appointed Joseph
 Le Conte to the chair I desired
 to have. They hurried on
 the election purposely, in order
 to give places to two southern
 men, the Secessionists having
 a majority in the Board, and 
 trying to make the concern a 
 southern political institution.


 I am however just as much
 obliged to you as if I had been
 successful, and it may be useful
 to me yet, as there will be
 an effort made to get up an
 opposition College on Union principles
 & the majority of intelligent 
 citizens are Republicans.

        